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intended to put the buttons on themselves。〃 Such a detail is
alarming。 An inquiry is set on foot and the alarm increases； people
in a strange uniform have been seen passing on their way to the
chateau of Villiers； from thence； on reaching the number of two
hundred； they will go and join the garrison of Besan？on； they will
travel four at a time in order to avoid detection。 At Besan？on they
are to meet a corps of forty thousand men； commanded by M。
Autichamp； which corps is to march on to Paris to carry off the
King； and break up the National Assembly。 The National Guards along
the whole route are to be forced into the lines。 At a certain
distance each man is to receive 1；200 francs； and； at the end of the
expedition； is to be enrolled in the Artois Guard； or sent home with
a recompense of 12；000 francs。 … ？Meanwhile； the Prince de Condé；
with forty thousand men； will come by the way of Pont Saint…Esprit
in Languedoc； rally the disaffected of Carpentras and of the Jalès
camp to his standard； and occupy Cette and the other seaports； and
finally； the Comte d'Artois； on his side； will enter by Pont…
Beauvoisin with thirty thousand men。 … A horrible discovery！ The
municipal authorities of Valence immediately inform those of Lyons；
Besan？on； Chalons； Ma？on； and others beside。 On the strength of
this the municipal body of Ma？on； 〃considering that the enemies of
the Revolution are ever making the most strenuous efforts to
annihilate the Constitution which secures the happiness of this
empire；〃 and 〃that it is highly important to frustrate their
designs；〃 sends two hundred men of its National Guard to the chateau
of Villiers；〃 empowered to employ armed force in case of
resistance。〃 For greater security； this troop is joined by the
National Guards of the three neighboring parishes。 M。 de Bussy； on
being told that they were climbing over the wall into his garden；
seizes a gun and takes aim； but does not fire； and then； the
requisition being legal； throws all open to them。 There are found in
the house six green coats； seven dozens of large buttons； and
fifteen dozens of small ones。 The proof is manifest。 He explains
what his project was and states his motive … it is a mere pretext。
He makes a sign； as an order； to his valet … there is a positive
complicity。 M。 de Bussy； his six guests； and the valet； are
arrested and transported to Ma？on。 A trial takes place； with
depositions and interrogatories； in which the truth is elicited in
spite of the most adverse testimony； it is clear that M。 de Bussy
never intended to do more than defend himself。 … But prejudice is
a blindfold to hostile eyes。 It cannot be admitted that； under a
constitution which is perfect； an innocent man could incur danger；
the objection is made to him that 〃it is not natural for an armed
company to be formed to resist a massacre by which it is not menaced
；〃 they are convinced beforehand that he is guilty。 On a decree of
the National Assembly the minister had ordered all accused persons
to be brought to Paris by the constabulary and hussars； the National
Guard of Ma？on； 〃in the greatest state of agitation；〃 declares that；
〃as it had arrested M。 de Bussy； it would not consent to his
transport by any other body。 。 。 Undoubtedly； the object is to
allow him to escape on the way；〃 but it will know how to keep its
captive secure。 The guard； in fine； of its own authority； escorts
M。 de Bussy to Paris； into the Abbaye prison； where he is kept
confined for several months … so long； indeed； that； after a new
trial and investigation； the absurdity of the accusation being too
palpable； they are obliged to set him at liberty。 … Such is the
situation of most of the gentry on their own estates； and M。 de
Bussy； even acquitted and vindicated； will act wisely in not
returning home。
III。
Domiciliary visits。 … The fifth jacquerie。 … Burgundy and
Lyonnais in 1791。 … M。 de Chaponay and M。 Guillin…Dumoutet
He would be nothing but a hostage there。 Alone against thousands；
sole survivor and representative of an abolished régime which all
detest； it is the noble against whom everybody turns whenever a
political shock seems to shake the new régime。 He is at least
disarmed； as he might be dangerous； and； in these popular
executions； brutal instincts and appetites break loose like a bull
that dashes through a door and rages through a dwelling…house。 In
the same department； some months later； on the news arriving of the
arrest of the King at Varennes； 〃all nonjuring＇13＇ priests and ci…
devant nobles are exposed to the horrors of persecution。〃 Bands
forcibly enter houses to seize arms： Commarin； Grosbois； Montculot；
Chaudenay； Créancé； Toisy； Chatellenot； and other houses are thus
visited； and several are sacked。 During the night of June 26…27；
1791； at the chateau of Créancé 〃there is pillaging throughout； the
mirrors are broken； the pictures are torn up； and the doors are
broken down。〃 The master of the house； 〃M。 de Comeau…Créncé； Knight
of St。 Louis； horribly maltreated； is dragged to the foot of the
stairs； where he lies as if dead：〃 previous to this； 〃he was forced
to give a considerable contribution； and to refund all penalties
collected by him before the Revolution as the local lord of the
manor。 〃 … Two other proprietors in the neighborhood； both
Knights of St。 Louis； are treated in the same way。 〃That is the
way in which three old and brave soldiers are rewarded for their
services！〃 A fourth； a peaceable man； escapes beforehand； leaving
his keys in the locks and his gardener in the house。
Notwithstanding this； the doors and the clothes…presses were broken
open； the pillaging lasting five hours and a half； with threats of
setting the house on fire if the seigneur did not make his
appearance。 Questions were asked 〃as to whether he attended the
mass of the new curé whether he had formerly exacted fines； and
finally； whether any of the inhabitants had any complaint to make
against him。〃 No complaint is made； on the contrary； he is rather
beloved。 … But； in tumults of this sort； a hundred madmen and
fifty rogues prescribe the law to the timid and the indifferent。
These outlaws declared that 〃they were acting under orders； they
compelled the mayor and prosecuting attorney to take part in their
robberies； they likewise took the precaution to force a few honest
citizens； by using the severest threats； to march along with them。〃
These people come the next day to apologize to the pillaged
proprietor； while the municipal officers draw up a statement of the
violence practiced against them。 The violence nevertheless； is
accomplished； and； as it will go unpunished； it is soon to be
repeated。
A beginning and an end are already made in the two neighboring
departments。 There； especially in the south； nothing is more
instructive than to see how an outbreak stimulated by enthusiasm for
the public good immediately degenerates under the impulse of private
interest； and ends in crime。 … Around Lyons；＇14＇ under the same
pretext and at the same date； similar mobs perform similar
visitations； and； on all these occasions； 〃the rent…rolls are burnt；
and houses are pillaged and set on fire。 Municipal authority；
organized for the security of property； is in many hands but one
facility more for its violation。 The National Guard seems to be
armed merely for the protection of robbery and disorder。〃 … For
more than thirty years； M。 de Chaponay； the father of six children
of whom three are in the service； expended his vast income on his
estate of Beaulieu； giving occupation to a number of persons； men；
women； and children。 After the hailstorm of 1761； which nearly
destroyed the village of Moranée； he rebuilt thirty…three houses；
furnished others with timber for the framework； supplied the
commune with wheat； and； for several years； obtained for the
inhabitants a diminution of their taxation。 In 1790； he celebrated
the Federation Festival on a magnificent scale； giving two banquets；
one of a hundred and thirty seats； for the municipal bodies and
officers of the National Guards in the vicinity； and the other of a
thousand seats for the privates。 If any of the gentry had reason to
believe himself popular and safe it was certainly this man。 … On
the 24th of June； 1791； the municipal authorities of Moranée；
Lucenay； and Chazelai； with their mayors and National Guards； in all
nearly two thousand men； arrive at the chateau with drums beating
and flags flying。 M。 de Chaponay goes out to meet them； and begs to
know to what he owes 〃the pleasure〃 of their visit。 They reply that
they do not come to offend him； but to carry out the orders of the
district； which oblige them to take possession of the chateau and to
place in it a guard of sixty men： on the following day the
〃district〃 and the National Guard of Villefranche are to come and
inspect it。 …